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Re: Pneumoconiosis after cericite inhalation

Dear Editor,

This article recalls a controversy of the early 1930s, when the authority of no less a genius than Professor JS Haldane was challenged on behalf of South Wales coalminers by a mining mineralogist W. R. Jones, who as a consequence was to acquire the soubriquet "Sericite". [1]

Their disease was considered by Haldane not to be attributable to the dust to which they were exposed, as its level of crystalline silica was too low: further, it was claimed that coal mine dust reduced the risks of tuberculosis, and promoted longevity.

Jones' hypothesis was that much of the respiratory disease incurred in such dusty industries as coal mining, gold mining, and pottery, was related to the cericite rather than to the crystalline silica content of their dusts. There were fallacies in the scientific arguments on both sides, but in the event sentiment sided with Jones, and the miners received compensation. Algranti et al confirm that yet another non- asbestos mineral fibre can be biologically active even when below the length that most hygienists care to be concerned about.

References

[1] Greenberg M. 'A battle for compensation for Welsh coal miners: JS Haldane v "Sericite" Jones, 1932-1934..' Am J Ind Med, 1997;32: 309-314.